8/17/2017 9:16 AM PDT

Young Thug for Son of the Year award? He's got a helluva chance after handing his mom a $TACK to celebrate HIS birthday.

The rapper threw a huge party Wednesday night to ring in the big 2-6 at The Tago International Center in the ATL ... just across the street from 2 Chainz's 11th Street Studios.

Sure ... YT pulled all the stops to make sure the shindig was poppin ... with stars like T.I., Jacquees and Young Dolph. Young Thug's family also showed up ... including mama bear who was already shining bright -- that watch, tho -- before YT handed her a stack of 50 Gs to complete her look.

8/17/2017 9:15 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

Ray J's had it up to HERE trying to strike a settlement with "Celebrity Big Brother" for kicking him off the show ... so he's gonna sue to get the dough he says he's owed.

Sources close to Ray J tell TMZ ... his legal team and the production company have been negotiating for months but talks have hit a wall ... so RJ's manager, David Weintraub, has given his legal team the green light to file papers.

The issue -- Ray J says 'CBB' agreed to pay him $1 million and he says the show's gotta cough it up because 'CBB' unfairly kicked him out following a dental emergency.

TMZ broke the story ... Ray J was booted from the UK show back in January after complaining of an unbearable toothache that required a dentist to visit on set, 8 pain killers and an ambulance ride to the hospital after blacking out.

Ray J will ask that the show pay him the hundreds of thousands he says he's still owed, a public apology and an invitation to come back next season.

8/17/2017 6:57 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

Larry King is heartsick over Donald Trump, because the guy in the Oval is not the guy he's known for 35 years.

Passengers on the TMZ Celebrity Tour spotted the legendary talk show host Wednesday in Bev Hills, and he's very clear ... the Donald Trump he's known over the years was actually pretty liberal and politically androgynous.

King seems genuinely depressed that Trump drank his own Kool-Aid during the election, and became a guy who is unrecognizable to the people who have known him over the years.

In other news...

8/17/2017 7:37 AM PDT

Exclusive Details

Kim Zolciak's adamant her son's not terrified of dogs 3 months after he was attacked by one ... and that's why she got him one for his birthday.

Sources close to the 'RHOA' star tell TMZ ... Kim and the family recently fostered 3 puppies from a pitt lab mix litter of 9 while they searched for their forever homes. The fam kept one puppy, Sage, but as Kash's 5th birthday approached, Kim surprised him with Sage's puppy bro, Sailor.

Kim insists Kash is not scared of dogs and he has no recurring issues following May's attack. As we reported ... a dog bit Kash in the face which required surgery. Kim said Kash healed up fine and has perfect vision in his left eye ... even after getting stitches on his water line.

8/17/2017 1:00 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

Six Flags Over Texas is standing firm on flying the Confederate States of America flag, despite the uproar post-Charlottesville.

Park officials tell TMZ, they see a fundamental distinction between the flag they fly and the Confederate Battle flag. They say the distinction is that white supremacists and neo-Nazis have adopted the Battle flag and not the banner the theme park waves.

True enough, racists generally embrace the Battle flag, but here's the thing ... both represent exactly the same principle. Both flags flew during the Civil War to represent the fight to preserve slavery.

So, is this a distinction without a difference? It seems so. But reps from Six Flags explain it this way ... park patrons "are astute enough to know the difference." Again, what's the difference? Both flags are an homage to slavery.

In any case ... the Six Flags rep says the flag will continue to fly high over the park.

BTW ... the original stated reason for flying the flag at the theme park was that there are 6 flags that have flown over the state of Texas in its history, and the Confederate States of America flag is one of them.

8/17/2017 12:50 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

Blac Chyna's had it with her flavor of the month ... she dumped Mechie's ass and she's already back on familiar ground -- the strip club.

Sources close to BC tell us she got into an explosive argument Monday night with Mechie over his constant flirting with other women on social media. They'd been dating for less than 2 months but that didn't stop Mechie from getting BC's initials tattooed behind his ear.

The ink has barely dried and already she's told him to take a hike ... and to take all his stuff with him.

After the argument ... we're told Blac hit up a Tarzana studio and vented her frustration on the mic and spit lyrics for a new track. Inspiration.

Not long after she hit up Ace of Diamonds. As we reported ... she hit up the joint the same night her baby daddy's sister, Khloe﻿, and her NBA superstar bf, Tristan Thompson, showed up.

We're told Khloe and BC crossed paths inside and had a brief stare down. But no one uttered a peep.

As for how long the breakup will last ... we're told BC's called it game over but Mechie's desperately trying to make things right.